Tubing support for deep well pump



Oct. 18, 1955 A. G. BOBINE, JR

TUBING SUPPORT FOR DEEP WELL PUMP Filed March 18, 1952 Horny United States PatentV Office 2,720,844 Patented Oct. 18, 1955 2,720,844 TUBING SUPPORT FOR DEEP WELL PUMP Albert G. Bodine, Jr., Van Nuys, Calif. Application March 18, 1952, Serial No. 277,207

8 Claims. (Cl. 10S-419) This invention relates generally to deep well pumps, and more particularly to improvements in deep well pumps operated by periodic waves of tension and compression transmitted down the pump tubing at sonic frequencies.

The present invention relates particularly to improvements in pumps of the type disclosed in my Patent No. 2,444,912. In one form of pump disclosed in said patent, an elastic pump tubing is spring supported at the ground surface, and its upper end is vibrated vertically by means of a sonic frequency elastic wave generator, causing periodic waves of tension and compression to be transmitted continuously down the pipe. These waves have too great a frequency to result in bodily reciproca-tion of the pump tubing as a whole, but local regions of the tubing do oscillate vertically with passage of the waves. A check valve located in the tubing at such an oscillatory region acts as a fluid impelling member to pump well fluid up the tubing. If, as is preferable, the generator is tuned to a resonant frequency of the tubing, a standing wave will be established, and velocity nodes (regions of mininmum oscillatory movement) points along the tubing (spaced for the frequency at which the generator is operated), while velocity anti-nodes (regions of maximum vertical oscillatory movement) will appear at points spaced half way between the velocity nodes. With resonant operation, the aforementioned check-valve should be located at a velocity anti-node. Generally speaking, a check valve is located at the lowermost velocity anti-node (which will be a half wave length from the bottom end of the tubing), and additional check valves may in some cases be located at other velocity anti-nodes located higher up.

The present invention is directed to the problem of providing suitable vertical support for the pump tubing either during operation, or as a stand-by device for supporting the lower portion of the tubing in the event of an accidental parting of the tubing. With perfect resonant operation, certain vertically spaced regions of the tubing, located at the velocity nodes, migt be quite stationary, and it might seem possible simply to rigidly anchor the tubing to the casing at such points. In practice, however, there is almost always some degree of departure from theoretically perfect resonant operation, and hence some movement at the velocity nodes, not to mention the problem of accurately positioning at the velocity nodes so as accurately toV locate the regions of zero or minimum oscillation. Further, however, the pump operates quite satisfactorily even without resonant operation, and in non-resonant operation, all portions of the tubing have substantial vertical oscillatoin with the passage of the waves.

One object of the present invention is accordingly to provide supporting means for the pump tubing, capable of sustaining the tubing throughout its oscillatory cycle, even with maximum amplitude.

Another object is the provision of a tubing supporting the tubing supports device, or catcher" adapted to catch and support the lower section of a parted pump tubing.

The invention will now be more fully disclosed, and its various objects, features and advantages will more fully appear, in connection with the follow'ng detailed description of a somewhat diagrammatically illustrated embodiment thereof, reference being had for this purpose to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures l and la taken together are a utility view, largely in longitudinal section, partly broken away, and partly to reduced scale, showing the invention incorporated in a pump positioned in a well bore, Figure l showing the upper portion of the pump and tubing, and Figure la showing the bottom end portion thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the tubing support of the invention, shown anchored in position against the well casing;

Figure 3 is a transverse section on line 3 3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a perspective detail anchoring shoes.

In the drawings an oil well bore is indicated by the letter W, and a well casing within said bore by numeral showing one of the usual manner. The stand of pump tubing ll, understood as composed of elastic material, as steel, stood as being made up of a number connected by ordinary coupling collars,

pumped from the well bore. Platform 12 is resiliently mounted on vertical coil springs 13 standing on stationary platform 14 which may in turn be supported on the ground surface. The lower end portion of tubing 11 is controlled by a check valve 15 (Figure la), here shown as consisting of a valve ball 16 adapted to set downwardly on seat ring 17 rigidly mounted in the tubing.

Mounted onV platform 12, 11 extending thereabove, means for vertically vibrating the platform 12, and thereby exerting a vertical oscillating force on the upper end of the tubing ll. Since the vibrating means is employed to generate elastic waves in the pump tubing which are substantial resultant vertical oscillatory force. The driving pulley of the sound wave generator G, mounted on the shaft for one of the spur gears, is driven by electric motor M driven through belt 2l.

The oscillatory force supplied to the upper end of the astic pump tubing 11 by generator G causes sound. Thus longitudinal deformation waves of compression and tension, of wave lengths usually shorter than the length of the tubing string, travel down the tubing string, causing each transverse section thereof to oscillate vertically with each passage of a wave. Ideally, though not necessarily, the frequency of the sound Wave generator and the length of the tubing are so related that the tubing stand is longitudinally resonated, which is accomplished by driving the sound wave generator at a resonant frequency of the tubing string. Such operation establishes a standing wave along the tubing string, with one or more velocity nodes at tubing sections a half-wave length apart, At these tubing sections, the amplitude of vertical oscillation is substantially zero, and these points accordingly are the most appropriate points at which to engage the tubing for anchoring purposes. At points halfway between these velocity nodes there will appear regions of maximum amplitude of vertical oscillation. It is best to have the check valve located at such a velocity anti-node, that is, point of substantial or maximum oscillation. Preferably, therefore, thc pumping system is operated at resonance, with a velocity anti-node at the location of check valve 15. In accordance with the embodiment shown in Figure l, the check valve 1S is positioned at a velocity anti-node located a half-wave length above the free lower end of the tubing. The upper end of the tubing, where the generator is mounted, will be understood to be the location of a velocity anti-node. The casing head may engage the tubing at the location of a velocity node.

The tubing 11 thus undergoes vertical oscillation in amounts which may differ from section to section along its length, as from substantially zero to 1,/4" or thereabouts. lf the check valve 15 is located at a velocity anti-node the amplitude of this vertical oscillation will be maximized at the location of the check valve. It is again to be emphasized, however, that resonant operation is not essential, and that the check valve will oscillate vertically, in a manner to effect pumping as presently to be described, even though resonant operation is not established. During each oscillation of check valve 15, with or without resonant operation, a small increment of well uid travels upwardly in the pump tubing past the seat ring 17, to be elevated in the pump tubing and eventually discharged via a delivery pipe indicated at 25. For a more complete discussion, see my said Patent No. 2,444,912

All of the subject matter disclosed hereinabove is common to the aforementioned patent. The present invention is directed to an improved tubing supporting means, or catcher, and will be described rst in a form or adaptation designed to support the tubing at all times and through its vibratory stroke. In this form, the tubing support of the invention is preferably, though not necessarily, arranged to engage the tubing at a velocity node, where its amplitude of oscillation is either zero, or minimized. Since it is in practice relatively difficult to locate these velocity node regions of the pump tubing, the present invention provides a tubing support capable of supporting sections of the tubing having substantial amplitude of vertical oscillation. ln fact they may provide support for the tubing even though engaged with portions of the tubing having maximum vertical oscillation.

Reference now being directed to Figure 2, numeral 30 designates a section of elastic tubing made up in the tubing string 11 by means of special upper and lower collars 31 and 32. The collar 3l has annular ange 33 providing downwardly facing annular seat 34 for a purpose to appear presently. The collar 32 may resemble a conventional coupling collar, but preferably has somewhat increased wall thickness, so as to provide an upwardly facing annular shoulder 35 employed for a purpose presently to appear.

Encircling tubing section 30 between collars 31 and 32 is a tubing support member 36 comprising a lower body section 37, and a tubular upward extension 38, the body 37 and tubular extension 38 having a central bore 36a of sufficient diameter to tit tubing 30 with working clearance. Received in four 90-spaced vertical slots 39 in body 37 and pivotally mounted on horizontal pins 40 extending thereacross are the inner, upper ends of pairs of parallel vertically swinging links 41, the outer, lower ends of which are received in vertical slots 42 in serrated casing Cil engaging anchor shoes 43, being pivotally mounted on horizontal pins 44 set into the latter.

In the illustrative embodiment, there is formed on tubular member 38, a short distance below its upper end, an outwardly extending annular flange 45 providing an upwardly facing annular shoulder, and seating downwardly on this shoulder is the lower end of a coil compression spring 47 encircling the member 38 and engaging at its upper end against the aforementioned downwardly facing annular shoulder 34.

While the pump tubing is being lowered in the well, the links 41 and shoes 43 are in a contracted position, being collapsed downwardly and inwardly as indicated in full lines in Figure 2, and the body 37 rests at its lower end on collar 32. Links 41 may be held temporarily in the retracted position by means of wires 5l) connected bctween pins 51 on the body 37 and eyes 52 in the lower ends of the shoes 43. In installing the pump, the tubing is lowered nearly but not quite to its intended operating position, and the generator G then operated. The vibratory action transmitted down the pump tubing quickly fatigues and breaks the wire 50, whereupon the shoes are expanded under the influence of coil springs 55 placed between the body 37 and the shoes. Thus the links 4l, under the pressure of these springs, swing the shoes 43 upwardly and outwardly, causing them to become engaged tightly against the easing wall, the links having a downward and outward supporting angle in their final expanded position, as shown. With the generator G then stopped, the tubing is lowered to permit its weight to be assumed by the springs 13 under platform 12, and by the springs 47 of the tubing supports. Each of these springs 47 transfers a portion of the total load to the corresponding body 37, and the latter bears downwardly on the inner ends of the links 41, causing shoes 43 to be further expanded and their serrations to bite into supporting engagement with the casing.

The pump may thereafter be operated with the pump tubing thus spring supported from the casing at selected intervals. The springs 47 are effective as load carriers throughout a substantial range of vertical oscillation amplitude of the pump tubing. In this operating position, the lower end of the tube support bodies 37 are of course spaced from the collars 32.

To remove the pump from the well, the pump tubing is simply elevated, which causes the anchor shoes to collapse inwardly, disengaging the casing, and the body 37 to move down into engagement with collar 32, which supports it while the tubing is being removed from the well.

In Figure 2, the tubular upward extension 38 from the body part 37 of the tubing support has been shown with a broken-out section and, in practice, for some purposes, this member 38 may be relatively short, as, for instance, only an inch or thereabout, while for other purposes and uses it may be relatively long, as for instance, approximately twenty feet. Used as described in the foregoing, the member 38 actually need not be of any particular length, the function of the member 38 being only to afford the necessary seat for the lower end of the spring 47. This type of use is illustrated in the upper portion of Figure l, where the member 38 is seen to be relatively short.

In an alternative use, the tubing support is employed primarily, or exclusively, in stand--by service as tubing catcher, to catch and thereafter support the lower section of tubing in event of an accidental parting of the tubing string. For this purpose, the spring 47 may be entirely omitted. The member 38 is in this case made long, as beforernentioned, and as indicated in the lower portion of Figure l. It is also made very heavy, for instance, of the order of 1,000 pounds. In this case, the shoes 43 are initially expanded in the manner previously described, that is, by running the generator to cause tie wires 50 to fatigue and break, permitting the shoes to be expanded by action of the spring 55. Once this nas been accomplished, the pump tubing can be lowered a little, whereupon the substantial weight of the tubular member 38 acting against the upper ends of the links 41 causes the shoes 43 to be further spread apart and their teeth to be set tightly into the walls of the casing. The great weight of the member 38 continuously bearing downward on the inner ends of the links 41 assures that the shoes 43 will remain tightly set against the casing during operation.

As stated, with the last described form of the invention, the springs 47 can be either used or omitted. If used, they supply a spring support for the tubing during the operation of the pump. l'f not used, the entire weight of the pump tubing hangs from the spring supported platform 12 at the ground surface. In such case, the upper end of the tubular member 38 faces and is spaced a short distance from the shoulder at the lower end of collar 31. In the event of an accidental parting of the tubing string above, the tubing will fall, but the lower end of the coupling 31 will shortly engage the upper end of the tubular member 38, and the parted section of the tubing string will thus be supported from the casing through the expanded shoes 43.

The invention is thus capable of use as a means for spring supporting the tubing stri@ at selected intervals therealong throughout the operation.- of the pump, and it will of course be evident that the supporting devices are available also for the support of the parted section of the tubing string in the event of failure above. This use of the invention is indicated in the upper portion of Figure l. Alternatively, for situations in which it is not desired that the pump tubing be supported during operation, the form of the invention with the long, heavy tube 38 is employed. The device is shown with the elongated tubular section 38, but without the spring 47, in the lower portion of Figure l. Here, the device acts merely in stand-by service, to catch the parted section of the tubing in the event of a failure above the catcher. But the form with the long heavy tube 38 can also be used with the spring 38 to obtain spring support for the tubing string during operation.

It will be understood that the drawings and description are for illustrative purposes only, and that various changes in design, structure and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

l claim:

l. A pump tubing support for a deep well pump of the class employing a string of elastic pump tubing suspended in a well casing and operated by longitudinal waves of tension and compression transmitted downwardly in the medium of the elastic tubing string whereby to establish longitudinal vibrations in said tubing, said tubing string having a collar, comprising: a body adapted to encircle said pump tubing below said collar with working clearance to accommodate the vibratory movement of the tubing, means for supporting said body on said tubing below said collar during lowering of the tubing into the well casing, said body having an upwardly facing shoulder opposed to and spaced below said tubing collar, casing engaging anchor shoes, links pivotally connected at their upper ends to said body and at their lower ends to said shoes, so as to mount said shoes for movement between a lower collapsed contracted position and an upper expanded casing engaging position, means for expanding said shoes after the tubing has been lowered in the casing, and means for exerting a downward force on said body to cause the casing engaging shoes to be moved into forcible engagement with said casing said body being adapted to catch the lower segment of said tubing string by said collar in the event of parting of said string above said collar.

2. The subject matter of claim l, wherein the means for exerting the downward force on said body comprises a spring acting between said collar and said body.

3. The subject matter of claim l, wherein the means for exerting the downward force on said body is heavily weighted and exerts said force owing to its weight.

4. A pump tubing support for a deep well pump of the class employing a string of elastic pump tubing suspended in a well casing and operated by longitudinal waves of tension and compression transmitted downwardly in the medium of the elastic tubing string whereby to establish longitudinal vibrations in said tubing, said tubing string having a pair of longitudinally spaced collars, comprising: a body adapted to encircle said pump tubing between said collars and to seat on the lowermost collar during lowering and elevation of the tubing into and from the well casing, casing engaging anchor shoes mounted on said body for movement between a collapsed contracted position and an expanded casing engaging position, means for supporting said shoes in contracted position while the tubing is being lowere means for expanding said shoes after the tubing has been lowered in the well casing, and a coil spring surrounding said tubing between said body and the uppermost of said collars, the lower end of said spring being supported by said body, and the upper end of said spring being disposed in supporting relation to the last-mentionedl collar.

S. A pump tubing support for a deep well pump of the class employing a string of elastic pump tubing sus` pended in a well casing and operated by longitudinal waves of tension and compression transmitted downwardly in the medium of the elastic tubing string whereby to establish longitudinal vibrations in the tubing, said tubing string having a pair of longitudinally spaced collars, comprising: a heavily weighted body adapted to encircle said vibratory pump tubing between said collars with working clearance for the tubing and to seat on the lowermost collar during lowering and elevation of the tubing into and from the well casing, casing engaging anchor shoes mounted on said body for movement between a collapsed contracted position and an expanded casing engaging position, means for supporting said shoes in contracted position while the tubing is being lowered, and means for expanding said shoes after the tubing has been lowered to position, said shoes being set tightly against said casing by virtue of the weight of said body when the lowermost tubing collar is lowered from supporting engagement with said body, or said weighted body being adapted to catch the lower segment of said tubing string by said upper collar in the event of parting of the string at a point above said collar.

6. In a sonic deep well pump of the character described operable in a well casing, the combination of: a sonic pump tubing suspended in the well casing, said pump being operative by elastic vibration of said tubing through predetermined stroke limits in its longitudinal direction owing to passage of elastic deformation waves transmitted therealong, a collar on said vibratory tubing having a downwardly facing engaging shoulder, a supporting body located in the annular space between said well casing and said longitudinally vibratory tubing with working clearance relative to said tubing and anchoring means for rigidly supporting said body against the well casing at a position below said collar during operation of the pump, the upper portion of said body having an upwardly facing engaging shoulder opposed to and vertically alined with said downwardly facing shoulder on said tubing collar and spaced below the lowermost limiting position of said downwardly facing shoulder during vibration of said tubing between said stroke limits, said body being adapted to catch the lower segment of said tubing string by said collar in the event of parting of the string at a point above said collar.

7. A pump tubing support for a deep well pump of the class employing a string of elastic pump tubing suspended in a well casing and operated by longitudinal waves of tension and compression transmitted downwardly in the medium of the elastic tubing string whereby to establish longitudinal vibrations in the tubing, said tubing string having a collar providing a downwardly facing shoulder, comprising: a body adapted to encircle said vibratory pump tubing below said collar, with working clearance for the tubing, means for supporting said body on said tubing below said collar during lowering of the tubing into the well casing, said body having an upwardly facing shoulder opposed to and adapted to be normally spaced below said downwardly facing shoulder on said tubing collar when said body is set in the casing, casing engaging anchor shoes mounted on said body for movement between a collapsed contracted position and an expanded casing engaging position, means for supporting said shoes in contracted position while the tubing is being lowered, and means for expanding said shoes after the tubing has been lowered to position, said body being adapted to catch the lower segment of said tubing string by said upper collar in the event of parting of the string at a point above said collar.

8. A pump tubing support for a deep well pump of the class employing a string of elastic pump tubing suspended in a well casing and operated by longitudinal waves of tension and compression transmitted downwardly in the medium of the elastic tubing string whereby to establish longitudinal vibrations in the tubing, said tubing string having a collar providing a downwardly facing shoulder, comprising: a heavily weighted body adapted to encircle said vibratory pump tubing below said collar, with working clearance for the tubing, means for supporting said body on said tubing below said collar during lowering of the tubing into the well casing, said body having an upwardly facing shoulder opposed to and adapted to be normally spaced below said downwardly facing shoulder on said tubing collar when said body is set in the casing, casing engaging anchor shoes mounted on said body for movement between a collapsed contracted position and an expanded casing engaging position, means for supporting said shoes in contracted position while the tubing is being lowered, and means for expanding said shoes after the tubing has been lowered to position, said shoes being set tightly against said casing by virtue of the weight of said body when the lowermost tubing collar is lowered from supporting engagement with said body, and said weighted body being adapted to catch the lower segment of said tubing string by said upper collar in the event of parting of the string at a point above said collar.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,667,733 Leonard May l, 1928 1,699,051 Crowell Ian. 15, 1929 1,921,547 Smith et al. Aug. 8, 1933 2,444,912 Bodine July 13, 1948 2,532,418 Page Dec. 5, 1950 

